Sport

Basingstoke Boxing Show a great success

BASINGSTOKE Boxing Club’s first open boxing tournament in three years proved to be a great success in front of a packed crowd at the Hatch Warren Community Centre.

An excellent 13 bout bill, featured boxers from across the south of England, with Basingstoke fighters in action in six of the contests.

Billy Gilbert, a 13-year-old from Buckskin, was first into the ring and faced Mike Alton from the Moneyfields Club in Portsmouth. Alton was the taller and heavier of the two fighters, but Gilbert got stuck in from the opening bell. This being a junior skills contest no decision was given.

Keanu Saunders was next home fighter in action against Titchfield’s Jake Mitchell.

Mitchell is a strong, come forward type of fighter, who looked to draw Saunders into a brawl.

However, Saunders boxed clever, as he moved around the ring which made his opponent miss and the Basingstoke fighter caught him on the counter.

In the third round a right hand landed heavily on Mitchell, which dropped him to the canvas. He rose to receive a standing count from the referee, who then waved the contest off.

Top 10 ranked Bryce Logan, in his 67th bout, took on a previous conqueror Paulius Macevilicious from the Kingfisher boxing club in Great Yarmouth.

This open class middleweight contest was a nip and tuck affair, with the Basingstoke fighter, and Logan winning it on a split decision.

Will Nimako gave away a chunk of experience in his contest to Redditch's Kane Baker, but out boxed him to win on all the judges’ cards.

Basingstoke's first female boxer, Hannah Latonero faced Rebecca Stone from St Albans. This was the third time the pair had met, and nine months of inactivity for Latonero showed as Stone got the nod from the judges.

The crowd roared as Jacob Gabriel was introduced into the ring for an open class light welterweight contest with Norwich fighter Rylan Charlton.

They were not disappointed in what was easily the best contest of the night pitting Gabriel boxing skills, against the heavy handed powerful hooks of Charlton.

The judges opted for the more eye catching skills of Gabriel, giving him the verdict on all cards.

Last up from Basingstoke was Gary Lucas, who faced Titchfield’s Michael Brown.

Lucas had not boxed for a year, where as Brown had only fought two days before on a show in Titchfield and he got the decision.

The night proved to be a massive success which gave Basingstoke boxers a rare opportunity to box in front of family and friends and it hoped it will become a regular event.

The club would like to thank all their sponsors on the evening, especially the Queen's Arms.

The club train four evenings a week at their Essex Road gym, where anyone aged 10 and above is welcome to come and train, learn to box, or just keep fit.